In approximately a month, the Signage Foundation Inc. (SFI), in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati (UC), will present the second annual National Signage Research & Education Conference (NSREC). Not only do I urge sign companies to attend, I strongly suggest that you invite and bring along your local planner(s) and some of your customers. Too often, interaction between sign companies and planners is confrontational. And interaction between planners and end users may be non-existent. But at the NSREC conference, slated for October 13-14 at Marriott Kingsgate Hotel on the UC campus, all of these groups can discuss their viewpoints in a relaxed setting.
The speakers won’t represent the sign industry, per se. Instead, three of the four primary speakers will have the credibility that accompanies university credentials. And the keynote will be delivered by Jim King, who represents the New York Small Business Development Center.
One of SFI’s goals is to attract a balanced mix of sign-industry people, planners, end users, planning students and university faculty. You can do your part by helping promote this mix. Another SFI goal is following its S.T.A.R. initiative, with these four speakers addressing Science, Technology, Art/Advertising and Regulation. Following the conference, and armed with a copy of the proceedings, not only will you be able to speak more intelligently about these topics, but you’ll have helped planners earn continuing-education credits necessary for them to retain their coveted AICP accreditation. You can read more about NSREC and SFI at www.thesignagefoundation.org.